19 September 2013  Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and his top envoy in Kosovo have strongly condemned this morning’s attack on a European Union convoy that resulted in one death, and urged that those responsible be brought to justice.

An officer serving with the EU Rule of Law Mission (EULEX) lost his life in the incident, which took place in the vicinity of Municipality Zvecan, according to a news release issued by the UN Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK).

Mr. Ban, in a statement issued by his spokesperson, underlined the key role played by the international presences in Kosovo.

“He stresses the importance for all concerned to cooperate with the investigation and ensure security and freedom of movement of EULEX and other international presences in the implementation of their respective mandates,” said the statement.

Both the Secretary-General and his Special Representative in Kosovo, Farid Zarif, urged that those responsible for today’s “cowardly act” be quickly identified and apprehended.

“This abhorrent act of violence is a direct assault on the principles of peace, justice and civility that international missions are in Kosovo to serve,” said Mr. Zarif, who is also head of UNMIK. “Any attack against representatives of the international community is an attack on the international community as a whole.”

The envoy urged everyone to avoid speculation about the motives or identities of those responsible, to allow the investigators to do their work.

“The United Nations in Kosovo offers its full support to EULEX and local law enforcement to ensure those responsible are brought to justice,” Mr. Zarif stated.